There is so much flurry over the upcoming presidential election in neighbouring Senegal that outsiders are asking; what’s going on besides that?
Once considered as stable country, recent events have shown that the country is heading into arm’s way, pitching opponents of current President Abdoulaye Wade into a cul-de-sac.
Wade, aged 85, is defiantly making for a third presidential term, dumping caution to the wind. Critics see it as a dangerous gamble and an act of someone bidding for leadership regardless of the pitfalls. He should have heeded the resentment his decision has so far caused with the riots last June, which saw boulevards and avenues littered with burning tyres, overturned vehicles and unofficial boulevards giving a semblance of a country in crisis.
As far as Wade is concerned, the message to back off has not arrived at his doorsteps. He continues to see the widespread opposition as acts of a handful of extremists out to create mischief giving the impression that the ‘Paris of Africa’ is ungovernable.
Though Wade’s political strength is difficult to assess, many Senegalese agree that whatever support he does carry is on the slide. Observers however contend that the February 26 election would be a crucial test for the ageing leader and is seen as the last straw that can broke the camel’s back.
For the opposition parties which despite its outward posture of unity, remain divided. Wade is seen as having little or nothing much to Senegal’s development. They have harped on corruption in the country’s management structure, rising food prices and failed attempts by Wade to forward his son, Karim to succeed him.
It’s more like the North Korean dynasty, according to a knowledgeable opposition member of the country’s National Assembly. Critics contend that this is one of Wade’s political un-doings. They point to a litany of upsets including his attempt to doctor the country’s constitution to insert clauses that would have favoured him in the election. One of such clauses was for any presidential contestant to receive a mere 21 percent vote in the first round instead of the current 51 percent. It was rebuffed in the referendum. Moves were also made for a vice president to be appointed. Voters suspected that it was to be a political stepping stone for Karim.
Karim, who is currently a minister, oversees a multi-faceted set up – energy and power, international cooperation, regional development, aviation and infrastructure.
A major problem plaguing the country particularly the capital is the near absence of electricity with power cuts taking up to 12 to 14 hours of a 24-hour period.
The state Electricity Company is throttled by a 529 million dollar debt and international donors are snubbing all attempts to bail out the enterprise.
Unemployment among youths remains worrisome and university graduates have to make do with driving taxis to fill up their financial times.
Export of phosphates, fish, cement and gold is on the slide and its air transporter, Air Senegal is in limbo operating on an ad hoc basis that has earned it the joke of ”expect me when you see me.”
The war in Casamance where rebels are fighting for secession is craftily being swerve from the media telescope so that visitors to Senegal hardly know that it is taking place. Movements opposed to Wade have sprung up like jack-in-the-box and vowing to fight to the last man.
The most popular slang in the streets of Senegal these days is ‘Y’en a marie’ (we have had enough) summing up the frustration that things are getting worse.
The opposition said it is the end game in whcih Wade would either be staggered off the stage or pushed. Opposition parties have rallied round to a coalition, principally among them is the Benno Siggil Senegal (united to boost Senegal) but most of its leaders lack the knack to bring the message to the community.
Some of them have a hurried lust to rule, a zeal which can be their downfall.
Among the politicians though, at least three need to be taken seriously. Former Prime Ministers Macky Sall and Idrissa Seck can do well and so too would be front runner Ousmane Deng if voters give them the chance to put their theoretical thinking into practice.
The arrival of international music legend Youssou Ndour into the presidential race has further widened the distance. Many Senegalese are adjusting to his presence and trying to decipher what his intervention can bring. Critics are already comparing his stance to that of Liberia’s soccer star George Weah and openly saying: ‘you can be a successful footballer or musical star but the presidency is no singing matter’.
Ndour however seemed to have weighed his chances before taking the plunge.
He may need to tread cautiously not to affect his successful singing career.
Would he win? Well politics has its own way of getting people in and out of the arena. But we cannot rule on things we don’t know. In Mauritius, they say, when a political leader offers you the key to the city, better watch out that he has not changed the locks when your back was turned.
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